Are your enterprise data centers growing and requiring increased network performance? Increased workload demands are putting pressure on server I/O. The HP FlexFabric 10 Gb 2-port 534FLR-SFP+ adapter increases throughput for the HP ProLiant Gen8 DL and SL server series by using the innovative HP FlexibleLOM form factor to offer dual-ports in an SFP+ adapter configuration that includes storage I/O functionality, making it a full converged network adapter. This is the solution of choice for workload-intensive computing environments.

Technical Specifications

Specifications are provided by the manufacturer. Refer to the manufacturer for an explanation
of the print speed and other ratings.

Rated 4 out of 5 by Marcel Jachnik The most valuable features are full command line support, VLANs, protocols for trunking, and the lifetime warranty. Valuable Features:The most valuable features are full command line support, VLANs, protocols for trunking, and the lifetime warranty. These switches are really good hardware with good stability.Improvements to My Organization:It's given us a stable solution for our network.Room for Improvement:Stacking of switchesDeployment Issues:We've deployed is without problems.Stability Issues:It's been stable.Scalability Issues:We have about a hundred users.Technical Support:I've used technical support only once. We needed support for a transceiver that was not supported, so technical support didn't help me. We chose another transceiver and everything worked as we expected.Initial Setup:Console port speed autodetect feature not work as we expected and create some problems with connecting to switch. I think that better option is set up one port speed and write it to manuals.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions. January 20, 2016

Rated 4 out of 5 by ProgramMgr188 It's allowed us to redesign our whole data center and networking architecture. Now it's stable and we've been able to scale. Valuable Features:They meet my business requirements as I use an application that's hosted in the cloud, in our data center, and on our network. I can "zoom the surfaces."Improvements to My Organization:We used to have an unstructured data center without proper networking diagnostics. The data mines flow from different locations without a proper networking design. HP's people redesigned our whole data center and networking architecture. It's been stable and we've been able to scale. All I need to do is ask for any number of servers and they immediately create VMs.Room for Improvement:There are RAM limitations on the VMs and I can't install certain apps on HP VMs.Use of Solution:It was installed three years ago.Deployment Issues:It's deployed just fine for us.Stability Issues:It's very stable. Any downtime we had was scheduled. The design was redundant with double false switches.Scalability Issues:Actually, we scaled up. We increased the the number of modules to meet the requirements we got from our branches.Technical Support:Support in Saudi Arabia is different than if you compare it with other countries. If I give them a mark out of 10, I can give them eight. Support by HPE has met our expectations.Initial Setup:Setup was complex, but they helped us out a lot.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions. January 3, 2016

Rated 4 out of 5 by Jakob Stærk The key feature is that we can choose ProVisions for simplicity or Comware-based switches for high-end features. Valuable Features:From the low-end ProVisions up to the high-end Comware-based switches, their most valuable feature is that they actually work. Not all switches can do that, especially at a reasonable price. HP's switches offer price performance you can't find anywhere else.Improvements to My Organization:These switches provide us with simplicity when we need. The ProVisions have fewer features and fewer functionality, but they're simpler. If we need, we can go with the Comware-based switches which have high-end features. So with these switches we can have both sides.Deployment Issues:We had no issues with deployment.Stability Issues:They have been stable.Scalability Issues:We've been able to scale with these switches.Technical Support:Technical support is mostly good, but it's just like every other vendor. When you're at level 1 and you yourself are very knowledgable already, you just want to pass level 1. Level 2 is, normally, quite good, and level 1 is just a filter to take away all the stupid questions. If you're at level 3, you're probably in trouble because you have something that requires you to talk directly to the lab. So with the tiered structure for technical support, there are some inefficiencies. It would be an improvement to make technical support more efficient.Other Solutions Considered:We evaluated Cisco and Juniper. They are considered high-end providers, but HP can more or less do it all. For small, medium, and enterprise businesses, HP has a very good product range.Other Advice:Get some proper training.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions. December 28, 2015

Rated 3 out of 5 by João Tavares The SDN features are centrally manageable and provide system-wide traffic control. However, the hardware table doesn't include byte count, so I installed flow rules in the software table. Valuable Features:The Software-Defined Networking (SDN) features I find most valuable are:* Directly programmable and configurable* Centrally manageable* Control traffic system-wideRoom for Improvement:I think that the HP Openflow switches should be improved in terms of the open-flow byte-count statistics.I used SDN because my master thesis is about the visualization of traffic in the network per application with SDN, so I have worked with HP switches almost along all this year. In my thesis the byte count was very important for the conclusions, but I noticed that this feature had some problems and errors.My little experience tells me that everything starts because the hardware table (table 100) doesn't have the byte count. So I had to install the flow rules in the software table (table 200) which has a limit-rate, that may be the reason for the relative errors that I found.I used a host as an iPerf server and another one as an iPerf client and then I compared the open-flow byte count against the byte count provided by the iPerf console.Use of Solution:I have used this solution for six months.Stability Issues:The switch manual say that the device supports up to four mirrorings. But when I configured two port mirrorings, the SDN controller interface was blocked and the mirrorings didn't work.Scalability Issues:The Openflow hardware table doesn't provide a byte-count statistic, and the software table provides a byte-count statistic but with errors.I found that the possible reason for this is that the software-limit rate of the switch, which is 10,000 pps maximum, with an advice in the switch manual that if we increase the limit-rate above 1,000 pps, it is possible that this increases CPU and impacts system performance.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions. November 18, 2015

Rated 3 out of 5 by SrInfoAssurAn142143 Its ability to have different modules installed for different media types allowed for easy configuration, but the OS was a little difficult to manage at times. Valuable Features:I liked the scalability of the 5400 and 4200. It's ability to have different modules installed for different media types allowed for easy configuration.Improvements to My Organization:Ease of configuration.Room for Improvement:I found that the OS on these switches was a little difficult to manage at times. Configuration menus were not always user friendly even for someone with previous Nortel and Cisco experience. One Saving grace was the Procurve manager software. That made things a little easier to manage but I am still a command line person and would have preferred a more user intuitive command line.Use of Solution:I used the switches, HP Procurve 5400ZL and 4200VL as well as the 3500yl, for a little over a year.Deployment Issues:I did not deploy these switches. They were in place when I started working with them.Stability Issues:No.Scalability Issues:No. That is one thing I liked about them.Customer Service:Never had to call HP - NATechnical Support:Never had to call HP - NAPrevious Solutions:I had previously used Nortel and CIsco in a previous position. I switched due to a job change.Initial Setup:The initial set up of the switches was relatively easy. It has a list of questions that you answered similar to Cisco. The problem with this type of setup is it does not cover everything that should be set up on a switch when doing initial configuration.Implementation Team:All implementation and configuration was accomplished with in-house network engineers and administrators.ROI:Unknown.Cost and Licensing Advice:Unknown.Other Advice:Make sure you are familiar with other vendors first. That will help give you the base knowledge on how to navigate and configure this equipment. When all else fails, use the Procurve manager software to manage the equipment.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions. August 27, 2015

Rated 4 out of 5 by SysAnalyst434 PoE and VLAN allow for flexibility in our enterprise network because we can add VoIP and wireless access points if needed. Valuable Features:* Power over Ethernet (PoE)* Virtual LANImprovements to My Organization:PoE and VLAN allow for flexibility in our enterprise network because we can add VoIP and wireless access points if needed.Room for Improvement:Graphical User Interface (GUI) needs enhancement. Also, using a controller to support multiple access points would help manage and monitor our wireless network. VoIP requires QoS and our switches can work with it. We just need time to really implement across the board.Use of Solution:I've used it for three to four years.Deployment Issues:No issues encountered.Stability Issues:No issues encountered.Scalability Issues:No issues encountered.Previous Solutions:It was an upgrade from older HP models.Initial Setup:It was straightforward, but we aren't maximizing all the switch features for our enterprise.Implementation Team:We did it in-house.ROI:We have years left on this device as well as GB ports, and PoE.Cost and Licensing Advice:They have very aggressive pricing compared to Cisco.Other Solutions Considered:We also looked at Cisco.Other Advice:There are a lot of similar models, so check the features available.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions. August 2, 2015

Rated 3 out of 5 by TechSupEng164 Intelligent Resilient Framework (IRF) is a valuable feature. Valuable Features:The feature called IRF (Intelligent Resilient Framework) is unique in HP switching.Improvements to My Organization:Switching functionality is the same as with other products, but the lifetime warranty makes HP preferable.Room for Improvement:Customer support needs to improve.Use of Solution:I've used it for one year.Deployment Issues:No issues encountered.Stability Issues:No issues encountered.Scalability Issues:No issues encountered.Customer Service:8/10.Technical Support:6/10.Previous Solutions:I've used many products, but switching to HP depends on the customers requirement and the lifetime warranty.Initial Setup:It was straightforward with basic, simple switching and good documents available for reference.Implementation Team:We used an in-house team assisted by easily-available technical documents and user-friendly CLI.ROI:It's the best product and has a lower failure rate.Cost and Licensing Advice:Pretty good in switching, and the pricing is also good in comparison with others.Other Solutions Considered:No other options evaluated.Other Advice:Refer to best practices and technical documents.Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:HP Partners July 7, 2015

Rated 4 out of 5 by Giovannni Villanueva Both config and replicate configs are pretty easy on HP switches. Valuable Features:Manageability and interfacing with other various networking management platforms have been most valuable for us. We use SolarWinds and are looking at Omnivew.Improvements to My Organization:The warranty is great and so is lifetime on most hardware. Both config and replicate configs are pretty easy on HP switches.Room for Improvement:I would like to see a POE ability added to the devices. We’ve used a lot of POE switches recently, HP and non-HP, and we want to standardize on HP. Our requirements are often that we need a very small 8-port switch and would like a version like this.Also, I’d like to see the functionality of higher-end switches and some features of the 2900 series on the lower-end ones as well.Stability Issues:I’ve put in a few solutions, including HP and others in the past. I had problems with Extreme and Cisco, but only minimal ones with HP.Scalability Issues:It actually has great scalability. We have high-end switches and are putting in a core switch in the next few months. We also use managed switches. Every need has a solution.Technical Support:It’s been great. I’ve reached out directly to the account rep who is very willing to help. With issues, they are able to help directly when our channel partners who can’t help. Support is timely, too, and it's easy to get to a live person.Previous Solutions:We used a mixed bag of various vendors, but wanted to standardize on one platform that we knew was stable, reputable, and easily serviced by multiple channel partners if needed. We looked at others, but HP dominated.Initial Setup:We’ve engaged with many channel partners, and it has been very straightforward. We tweaked things here and there. We forgot a parameter, etc., but nothing big.Other Solutions Considered:* Extreme* Cisco* Lower end switches – LinksysOther Advice:Cost, reliability, serviceability, warranty, and not needing to purchase a support pack each year are important in helping choose the right vendor.Depending on what you need to accomplish the different models of the switches, start at the bottom and work up. A lot of functionality in the lower end switches may not be a need for the higher ones. Also, look at the stacking on the lower end switches.Support is great when needed, pricing is great, warranty can’t be beat, and lots of partners out there.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions. June 20, 2015